Nobody wants someone sneezing into their meal, but for the nearly one million workers in Massachusetts who do not currently have access to paid sick time, staying home sick just isn’t an option. That’s why dozens of workers rallied outside of Taco Bell in Quincy this afternoon, calling on the state legislature to pass the Massachusetts Earned Paid Sick Time bill.
The renewed push for sick time in Massachusetts comes on the heels of two paid sick days victories last week. Portland, Oregon became the fourth city in the country to adopt a paid sick days law, and Philadelphia’s City Council voted to pass a paid sick days bill. Rep Ron Mariano, who represents the Quincy area in the state house, is one of several voices stalling the 2013 Earned Paid Sick Time bill pending before the Massachusetts legislature.
The Taco Bell in Quincy is owned by Yum! Brands Inc., the world’s largest restaurant company with more than 38,000 restaurants around the world. Taco Bell and Yum! Brands’ other chains, Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken, do not allow their employees to earn paid sick time. Although Yum! Brands touts its commitment to corporate social responsibility on its website, low-wage employees at profitable chains like Taco Bell are among the one million workers in Massachusetts who cannot afford to miss a paycheck and are forced to work sick.
For more information and to get involved, check out MassPaidLeave.org.
